Lavrov Picked Up The Phone.

As you may expect, in the US media and State Department, where meaning of class does not exist, a "proper" language describing Blinken's communications with Lavrov was used. You know, Tony "demanded", he "warned", he "threatened" etc. A typical attitude of a New York low-rung thug trying to talk to higher-ups to show his "toughness". Reality, however, is such that Tony Blinken is scared shitless and there are reasons for that. Russian Foreign Ministry, however, released the summary in a typical Russian pro-forma and proper decorum manner. 

On July 29, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, at the latter’s initiative. The ministers discussed current developments in Ukraine. Sergey Lavrov laid out Russia’s principled approaches in the context of the special military operation in the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Lugansk People’s Republic and Ukraine. He emphasised that its goals and tasks will be fully achieved. The Foreign Minister drew the Secretary of State’s attention to the fact that the continued arming of the armed forces of Ukraine and nationalist battalions with US and NATO weapons, which are being used against civilians on a large scale, is only prolonging the agony of the Kiev regime by dragging out the conflict and increasing the number of victims. Mr Lavrov stressed that the armed forces of Russia strictly observe the norms of international law and that Russia has engaged in consistent efforts to restore peaceful life on the territories that it is liberating.

And so on. Lavrov, however, noted that Blinken had to wait "only 24 hours" (wink, wink) and, after all, it was State Department which was bombarding Russian FM with requests to talk to them. While the issue of exchange of imprisoned citizens was, indeed, discussed, in reality, the whole thing was about the US desperately trying to gauge Moscow's mood against the background of events in Ukraine, which are developing pretty badly for Washington's SOBs in Kiev and, certainly, not in accordance to plans by Blinken, Sullivan, Nuland and other Washington "strategists" who wouldn't be able to plan properly the visit to grocery store, let alone fighting Russia in Ukraine. That is the reason I always smile when some Russian "analysts" calls Vicki Nuland an "experienced diplomat". It is difficult to explain to people that being a four wheel drive uncultured bitch who learned some basics of diplomatic decorum is not enough to be a real diplomat. Let alone great diplomat. 

Incomparable Michael Brenner notes:

Russia has blunted everything thrown at them – to the shock of Western planners. Every assumption underpinning their scorched-earth assault on the Russian economy has proven mistaken. A dismal record of analytical error even by C.I.A. and think tank standards. Off-the-charts forecasts on the country’s economy, and the global impact of sanctions, crippled Washington’s plan from the outset. Tactical initiatives of a military nature have proven equally futile; another 1,000 vintage Javelins with dead battery packs will not rescue the Ukrainian army in the Donbass. So, you are stuck with the albatross of a truncated, bankrupt Ukraine hung around your neck. There is nothing that you can do to cancel these givens — except a direct, perhaps suicidal test of force with Russia. Or, perhaps, a retaliatory challenge elsewhere. The latter is not readily available — for geographic reasons and because the West already has expended its arsenal of economic and political weaponry.

And Lavrov already told Blinken directly:

As for the potential prisoner swap between the countries, Mr Lavrov strongly advised a return to professional dialogue in the context of “quiet diplomacy” without any dubious media leaks.

We all know that media leaks will happen anyway because the US "diplomacy" is totally corrupt as is US media, but the message is clear: you want to talk to Russia now tone down your BS and follow the rules which has been set up in the international diplomacy before the United States even existed as a country. Russia will talk to the US, because it is still huge and powerful country--noblesse oblige--as per Europe. Well, they always hated Russia and Russians, they always will no matter who comes to power--the break is existential.